Straight bar knitting machine



Jan. 28, 1936. s. HOLT 2,028,837

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 26, 19s: 3 sheets-sheet 1 s1 1 22 E 1 Q 25 12 r f 15 O 18 Jan. 28, 1936. a HOLT 2,028,837

STRAIGHT BAH KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Samuel Holt, Somercotes, England Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 673,077 In Great Britain June 1, 1932 Claims. (CI. 6698) This invention relates to improvements. in straight-bar knitting machines, and is more particularly applicable to that type of machine known as cottons. v

5 Its object is to simplify to a considerable extent the construction and operation of such machines, so that they can be run faster, and their output considerably increased.

This desirable result is effected by reducing the number of operative parts, and reducing the amplitude of movement of the operative members when knitting each course, an improvement of the existing machine which makes it less liable to'produce defective work, as well as permitting 5 of its being run at a higher speed than is normally possible.

According to this inventiomthe necessity for the employment of knocking-over bits is obviated by employing jack and dividing sinkers which are so shaped and actuated as to effect without 'any additional means, the knockingover of the loops at the completion of each course as well as their initial formation. The improved arrangement embodies a fixed presser above the sinkers and is'therefore adapted to perform all the necessary operations in an easier and more perfect manner than is possible, when as hitherto, the completion of each course is effected on the knocking-over bits, as the formation of the loops and their subsequent manipulation on the needles, is solely effected by the sinkers, instead of being partly effected by the latter and partly on the knocking over bits.

In place of the catch-bar mechanism which is usually employed for actuating the sinkers, mechi anism is provided for this purpose, which is more positive in its action than and is free from the defects associated with the former.

The absence of knocking-over bits not only permits of the use of shorter needles, but also permits of the courses being drawn thereon at a lower point, where the needles will flex to a less extent, with the result that the loops are drawn of a more uniform length throughout each course. In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which u Fig! 1 is a cross sectional'elevation showing the essential parts of a straight-bar knitting machine to which my invention is applied.

Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive are-cross sectional views drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1, illustrating 66 the action of the machine inknitting-a course.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the relation of the sinkers, the presser and the needles when knitting a course, drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 2 to 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation similar to 5 Fig. l, but showing the driving mechanism for the needle bar and the yarn feeders;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine.

Like numerals indicate like the drawings.

In carrying out this invention, the sinkers l are each formed at their fore ends with a deep gap or throat 2, (see Fig. 8) which divides them at thisv point into upper and lower parts of about 5 the same dimensions, and the extremity of theupper part of each sinker is approximately of the shape generally adopted, that is, it includes, a nose 3 of a suitable length disposed just above parts throughout 10 the throat 2, and a shoulder 4 above the rear of go this nose 3 The lower part of the fore end of each sinker is on the other hand in the form of a long nose 5, which extends some little distance beyond the nose Jon the upper part. The throats 2 in the sinkers I provide a continuous space in 25 which the last knitted course in the work 6 is alwaysheld, and the said space may be wide enough to admit the welt bar which is often used when starting to knit a garment.

The rear ends of the sinkers instead of being 30 provided with the usual upwardly projecting catch-bar butts, are formed with one or two downwardly projecting butts l and 8 sothat they can' be actuated more positively bymeans of a longitudinal bar 9 which is as shown in Fig. 1 35 disposed below their rear ends. I r

In the preferred construction, each sinker I is provided with two downwardly projecting butts 1 and 8,the former I of which is shorter than the latter, whilst a space is provided'between 4o them to admit the upper edge of the actuating bar 9. This sinker actuating bar 9 is carried and actuated by the following mechanism.

At the back of the machine is a longitudinal rocking shaft l0, which is actuated by means of 45 one or more cam levers ll thereon, and a corresponding number of cams I2 on the main cam shaft I3. This rocking shaft I0 is further provided with a series of short arms I4, and mounted in bearings in the free ends of the latter is a to longitudinal shaft l5. Independent sinker actuating bars 9 are'preferably provided in each di- .vision of the machine, and they are each carried on the free ends of pairs of arms I 6 secured on this shaft IS. The latter shaft I5 is actuated, 56

that is, raised and-lowered by means of the arms II on the rocking shaft Ill, and is further angularly reciprocated by means of one or more: cam levers II thereon, which latter are connected by links I9 to cam levers actuated by cams I8 in which case it will-engage with both the long and short butts, and is then adapted to positively move the whole of the sinkers I either in or out. The bar 9 is thus normally high enough to engage with the long butts 8 of and move-in the dividing sinkers after the jack sinkers have drawn a course, and it can subsequently be raised high enough to engage with both the long and short 4 butts I and 8, and actuate both the jack and dividing sinkers, when completing the knitting of a course.

The advantageof the arrangement described is that the bar 9 is positively moved into engagement with the butts 'I and 8 of the'sinkers I, and cannot jump out of engagement therewith,

a fault which is frequently net with at high speed whenan ordinary catch-bar is employed. The same result may be obtained by providing the sinkers with single butts, and employing twin actuating bars between which the butts can enter.

The presser 2| instead of being disposed below the sinkers I as is usual, is disposed above them,

and is conveniently located as shown at the front edge of thecap 22 of the sley 23 in which the sinkers I are disposed.

The iack sinkers, that is, every alternate sinker in each-division of the machine, are when drawing acourse, actuated as is" usual through the agency of sinker jacks 24, which are successively moved-in by a slur cock, which is not shown, but is longitudinally reciprocated by the usual mechanism, while theneedles 25 in each division are disposed on a bar 26 which is carried and actuated by arms 33 which are connected to a cam lever 34 which, in turn, is operated by a cam I3a on the shaft I3. The bar 26 is given a compound movement by an arm 35 connected to a rock shaft Illa-which is actuated by a cam lever 36 contacting with the cam I3a.

The operation -of the machine is as follows:--

At the commencement. of each course, the

needles 25 in each division of the machine, are,

as shown in Fig. 2 raisedto their highest positions, the sinkers I are nearly fully retracted, and the'yarn is laid by the thread carrier 21 which is shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 10 in the usual manner on theupper noses .3 of the sinkers I. The qthr'ead carriers 21 are connected to carrier bars 38 which are themselves reciprocated by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

- at the sametime sunk into loops on the needles 25 by the jack sinkers I as they are moved in by the slur-cock acting through the agency of the sinker jacks 24 (see Fig. 3) The new course 28isthus formed above. the upper sinker noses 3, whilst the previous course which is still on the needles and is embodied in the work 6',:.is located in the throats .2 of the sinkers I, and rests on the lower noses 5 of the latter.

- permit of the new The yarn is The sinker actuatingbar 9 now moves-in the dividing sinkers as shown in Fig. 4, so as to distribute the loopsuniformly on all the needles, and the said bar subsequently rises to a further extent so as to engage between the butts I and 8 of all the sinkers.

The needles 25 now descend until the new loops which are heldby the upper noses 3 of the sinkers, are drawn within the needle beards as shown in Fig. 5, the sinkers I and needles 25 then move back in unison so as to bring the needle .beards on to the presser 2| (see Fig. 5) while the .needles continue to descend so as to land the loops of the previous course, which are resting 'on the lower sinker noses. 5, on to the exterior of the needle beards. This action is more clearly shown in Fig. 8 which is drawn to a larger scale than the other figures. c

On the completion of the operation described, the sinkers I will-have been retracted so as to loops being drawn down by the needle 25 on to the lower sinker noses 5 as shown in Fig. 6, when perfect knocking over of the loops and the positioning of the work for the next course is effected, by moving the sinkers I forward again as shown in Fig. 7. It will be appreciated that when the sinkers I are moved forward, the inclined upper edges of the lower sinker hoses 5 will act upon the loops and effect the knocking over operation without stressing the yarn. The respective parts then return to their initial positions again (shown in Fig. 2) ready to commence another course, leaving the course last knitted on the lower ends of the needles 25 and in the throats 2 of the sinkers I. With the arrangement described, not only can 'the length of the needles 25 be reduced, but the amplitude of their movements can also be reduced, and when knocking-over the loops, they may be stationary, as this critical operation is performed by the noses 5 of the sinkers I, instead as is usual by the movement of the needles 25 relatively to the fixed knocking over bits. As a result of the shortening of the movementsof the needles 25 and the method of landing and knocking over the new loops solely by means of the sinkers I, the machine can be run much faster than is usual without detriment to the work noses 3, until they are being drawn through the loops of previous course, the said noses 3 being gradually withdrawn as this operation takes 7 place.

The knocking'over of the loops by means of the action of the sinker noses 5, avoids the necessity for putting any excessive weight on the work 6, and therefore effects this operation with-- out stressing the loops in the new or previous course, thus materially assisting in the producing of better work than hashitherto been possible. In order to prevent the needles 25 from coming in contact with the thread carrier 21, whefi" the former 25 are moved up to thepfesser 2|, provision is made for raising the thread carriers 21 out of the way oi. the needles 25, immediately the former have completed the process of laying the yarn for a new course.

In order to conveniently e'i'iect this operation, a fixed longitudinal bar 3| -(see Fig. 1) is disposed just above the sinkers I, and above this bar is a second longitudinal bar 29, which is hinged to the back of the bar II at 30, so that its front free edge can be raised and lowered. This bar 29 is located just below the thread carriers 21, and its front free edge is adapted to engage with the undersides of and raise the said thread carriers 27, when it is raised about its hinge 30 as previously described.

In order to raise the front of the bar 29 as described. its ends are connectedgby means of links 32 to arms 31 disposed on the rocking shaft iii of the yarn controlling snap tackle, whereby the said bar 29 and the thread carriers 21 are raised so soon as the carrier 21 in action has completed its yarn laying traverse.

What I claim is:-- V

1. In a straight-bar knitting machine of the type described, having sinkers provided with throats disposed immediately below the noses on which the new courses are drawn, a fixed presmr disposed immediately above the sinkers, a set of needles, a needle bar, yarn feeders, and means for actuating the latter, the needle bar and the sinkers whereby the knitting of eachcourse is eifected solely on .the sinkers by limited movements of the latter and the needles, substantially as described. f

2. In a straight bar knitting machine of the type described, the combination of sinkers, a fixed presser immediately above the sinkers, a set of needles, a needle bar, means'for operating the sinkers and the needle bar, yarn feeders, and means for raising the feeders clear of the needles when the latter are moved up to the presser, substantially as described.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine of the type described, the combination of sinkers, a fixed presser immediately above the sinkers, a set of needles, a needle bar, means for operating the needle bar, yarn feeders, a bar disposed under the rear ends of said sinkers for moving the same in and out as required, and means adapted to raise the bar into engagement with the rear ends of said sinkers and move them as required, substantially as described.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine of the type described, the combination of sinkers having butts onthe under sides of their rear ends, a fixed presser immediately above the sinkers, a set of needles, a needle bar, means for operating the needle bar, yarn feeders, means for actuating said feeders, a bar normally disposed below the sinkers, and means for carrying and actuating the bar adapted to raise the bar into engagement with said butts and move the sinkers in and out as is required to effect the knitting of a course, substantially as described.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine of the type described, the combination of sinkers, a fixed presser immediately above the sinkers, a set of needles, a needle bar, means for operating the needle bar, means for engaging the under side of the sinkers and moving them in and out as required, yarn feeders, means for raising said feeders clear of the needles when the latter move up to the presser comprising a bar which is disposed along the under side of said feeders, and means for raising the said bar consisting of a connection to a convenient moving part of the machine, substantially as described.

- SAMUEL HOLT. 

